Video Game Empire

Li Xuan's action to acquire the company can be described as a swift move. It took only three days for Dongfang Electronics' negotiators to reach an agreement with the company. Before the outside world reacted, the Oriental Group reached a final acquisition agreement with the company.

The Eastern Group's final offer was US$51.5 per share, and the total cost of the overall acquisition was US$5.22 billion. This price is slightly higher than the psychological bottom line preset by Li Xuan. But he still chose to cut the mess with a quick knife, and did not care about the price.

Li Xuan does not want to jump out of a third party to join the competition during the acquisition process, which will inevitably disrupt his entire layout. The acquisition negotiations only lasted for three days. Even if other prying eyes were really ready to come out to disrupt the situation, it was too late to make a decision in such a short time.

After all, this is a super merger involving an amount of up to 40 to 50 US dollars. Before any company makes a decision, it must go through detailed research and demonstration. With the cooperation of Bradshaw and Charlieson, the secrecy of the acquisition was done perfectly.

Even most of the company's management learned of the plan a week before the acquisition officially began. At that time, Li Xuan had already communicated with a number of important shareholders of the company under the help of Bradshaw.

Of course, the fact that Dongfang Electronics has reached an agreement with the company does not mean that the acquisition has been successful. They also need approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States before the dust settles.

The Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) is a federal government committee established by President Ford's signing of Presidential Decree No. 11858 in 1975. Its main function is to review foreign investment transactions that may affect U.S. national security.

The Committee on Foreign Investment consists of the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. It is composed of representatives of 9 government agencies, including the Minister of Finance, who serves as the chairman of the committee.

Li Xuan is not the first time to deal with this institution. When the Oriental Group acquired Fairchild Semiconductor before, it also accepted the strict scrutiny of the Committee on Foreign Investment.

Li Xuan's last dealings with CFIUS went smoothly. But this time it was unexpectedly stuck. Mr. William Winton, Undersecretary of State, who serves on the CFIUS Executive Committee on behalf of the US Department of State, does not seem to be very impressed by the company's acquisition by the Eastern Group.

The U.S. Department of State is also called the State Council, but unlike the Chinese State Council, the U.S. State Council is not the highest administrative agency of the government. The U.S. Department of State is only an agency in charge of foreign affairs and some internal affairs. Its highest head, the Secretary of State, is more like the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In addition to the full secretary of state, there are two deputy secretaries of state, six undersecretaries of state, and a state counselor in the U.S. Department of State. And William. Winton is one of the six undersecretaries of state. According to Li Xuan's knowledge, Mr. William Winton is 37 years old and a Republican from Maryland.

Before being appointed under secretary of state by President Reagan in 1980. He has held positions such as Maryland Comptroller, Maryland Congressman and other positions, and is regarded as a new backward political star emerging from the Republican Party in recent years.

In order for the acquisition to go smoothly, Li Xuan flew to Washington to invite His Excellency President Reagan to lunch. In previous years, Li Xuan had invested millions of dollars in political cash in Reagan. And next year is a presidential election year, and Li Xuan promised to donate another $5 million for Reagan's re-election campaign.

In front of such a large sum of real money, Donald Reagan made a call to the executive committee members of the Committee on Foreign Investment very readily. Of course, he would never say a good word for Dongfang Electronics directly on the phone, which would be tantamount to giving political enemies a handle. But everyone who receives the call can naturally understand the deep meaning of the president's call.

But only on the premise that the president comes forward to say hello. The Under-Secretary of State still seems to be ready to continue to embarrass Eastern Electronics. William Winton serves in the State Department, which is in charge of foreign affairs of the United States. Normally, it is impossible for him to have any intersection with the Eastern Electronics Company.

Li Xuan also did not believe that Mr. Winton was prepared to reject the application for the acquisition of Dongfang Electronics simply out of the consideration of safeguarding the national interests of the United States. That kind of nonsense can only fool stupid voters. There is no love for no reason in this world, and there is no hate for no reason.

"I didn't expect that it would be him jumping out! I thought it might be tbs or ge. But I really didn't expect it to be Mr. Murdoch from Australia!" Han Peng shook his head and said to Li Xuan.

Those most likely to thwart merger plans are often the original enemies of the two merger companies. But the acquisition of Oriental Electronics. The help to the original business is not great, so the enemy of Dongfang Electronics is unlikely to obstruct it. On the contrary, they were eager for Li Xuan to focus his energy. In industries other than computers and games.

The company's main business, including television and media two major parts. Among them, the TV business belongs to the sunset industry in the United States. Xiangge, Westinghouse Electric and other companies that are still producing TVs are preparing to sell or close their TV business. They wouldn't care if the company's TV business was bought by another company.

Therefore, Li Xuan's previous defense focus has been on the company's competitors in the media business. This piece of business is not only sensitive, but also has very stable profits, which can easily attract the prying eyes of others.

For example, there was news that Mr. Ted Turner of tbs (Turner Broadcasting Company) was interested in acquiring cbs (CBS). tbs is one of the largest cable television networks in the United States, and the n TV station, which has not yet been established, is affiliated to the tbs company.

And the value is higher than cbs, Li Xuan is not sure whether tbs company will turn his attention to him. Ted Turner, the founder of tbs, is a well-known media tycoon in the United States. His influence and connections in the United States are only higher than Li Xuan's. If he sets up obstacles to the acquisition of Dongfang Electronics, Li Xuan will definitely face a lot of trouble.

But what people didn't expect was that another character who was not in Li Xuan's plan at all jumped out. Rupert Murdoch. Li Xuan is no stranger to this well-known media giant. In another time and space, whether it is his scheming Chinese wife. Or the "News of the World" wiretapping scandal that shocked the world is enough to make Li Xuan remember this person.

His media empire includes world-renowned newspapers such as The Times, The Sun, The New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal. There are also 20th Century Fox Film Company, one of the eight largest film companies in Hollywood, Fox News Network, the fourth largest public news network in the United States, and Sky TV, which has global coverage. Even Dow Jones was in his pocket.

"Mr. Murdoch, in fact, we are still neighbors!" Li Xuan smiled and stood up and shook hands with the old man with a wide forehead, a big wine lees nose, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and very sharp eyes. Then he continued, "My address in New York is a block away from yours!"

Murdoch is the same as Li Xuan. Lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

"Hello, Mr. Li, do you know what's the matter with you asking me out today?" Murdoch pretended not to know Li Xuan's purpose and asked a little puzzled.

"Mr. Murdoch, I heard that you are good friends with Undersecretary of State William Winton in Washington. Mr. Winton has some misunderstandings about me, so I take the liberty to ask you to meet this time to see if you can help me. Make peace!" Li Xuan said with a smile.

, Li Xuan Te specially invited Bush Sr. to come forward and invite William Winton to lunch. First, the president came out to say hello, and then the vice president invited him to lunch. After Dongfang Electronics fully demonstrated its muscles. William Winton finally began to let go. He faintly revealed that his actions were also entrusted by a friend, and this friend was News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch.

Murdoch began to enter the US media market in the 1970s. In the past ten years, he has successively acquired more than ten newspapers and magazines across the United States. These include the influential "New York Post", "Boston Herald", "Chicago Sun" and so on.

And these News Corporation newspapers. Recently, when reporting the news of Dongfang Electronics' acquisition of the company, it has taken a very unfriendly stance without exception. Use all kinds of sensational conspiracy theories to distort and smear the acquisition of the Oriental Group as much as possible.

"I don't know what misunderstanding between Mr. Li and William?" Murdoch continued to pretend to be innocent.

"I thought Mr. Murdoch knew very well! He said that he took over the commission of an Australian friend. He was going to veto the acquisition of Dongfang Electronics Group under my name!" Li Xuan was very tired of this somewhat bald old man, so he simply directly threatened.

"Your Excellency may not know that Dongfang Electronics has been preparing for this acquisition for more than a year. If it fails, it will cause losses of hundreds of millions of dollars! I am a narrow-minded person, and I have enough money. I don't mind spending hundreds of millions more. U.S. dollars to retaliate! For example, the next time his company makes an acquisition, he will go and help him raise the price!"

The smile on Murdoch's face suddenly faded a little, and he stared at Li Xuan's eyes seriously. And Li Xuan did not show weakness, and looked directly at the other party with no expression.

"Of course, if Mr. Murdoch is willing to act as a reconciler between me and Mr. Winton, I am also willing to give some satisfactory returns!" After Li Xuan threatened, he gave another sweet date with a smile.

"Want to hear about it!" Murdoch said succinctly.

"You are a newspaper tycoon with a large number of newspapers in the United States, Europe, and Australia. I wonder if News Corp. is interested in entering the Asian market? For example, buying a newspaper in Hong Kong!" Li Xuan explained.

Murdoch's eyes brightened for a moment: "I wonder which newspaper Mr. Li is willing to sell?"

"South China Morning Post!" Li Xuan said slowly looking at Murdoch.

As far as he knows, News Corp once had a lot of interest in the South China Morning Post. But unfortunately, before Murdoch could make a move, Li Xuan had already taken the lead in acquiring the South China Morning Post.

Compared with Europe and North America, where the media market is relatively open, Asian countries have stricter controls in this field, and most countries do not welcome foreign capital to enter this field. Hong Kong, under British rule, is a relatively open area.

But the "South China Morning Post" is the only independent English-language newspaper in Hong Kong with considerable influence, and Murdoch naturally cannot run a Chinese-language newspaper. Therefore, after losing the opportunity to acquire the "South China Morning Post", News Corporation's layout in Asia has not made much progress.

The reason why Li Xuan acquired the South China Morning Post in the past was to enhance his influence in Hong Kong. But with his current status in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post doesn't mean much to him anymore.

"Listen to me News Corporation is preparing to enter the TV industry next, and has just acquired a satellite company in the UK! But the US and UK policies are different, foreigners are not allowed to own newspapers and TV stations at the same time. Mr. Murdoch, you seem to be still in Australia. Citizenship, before becoming a U.S. citizen, it is still impossible to acquire an American broadcasting company!

What's more, News Corporation has been making a lot of moves recently. You just acquired 20th Century Fox, which is enough to digest it for a while! There is an old saying in China that if one's heart is not enough, a snake swallows an elephant. I'm worried that Mr. Murdoch will choke to death if he eats too much at once! "Li Xuan said with an expressionless face.

Today's News Corporation is far from being as large as later generations~www.readwn.com~ Li Xuan has much less fear of Murdoch, and when he threatens the other party, there is no pressure! According to the analysis of the team behind Li Xuan, News Corporation has no ability to launch another large-scale acquisition.

But for some things, once you pass this village, there will be no next shop. If the company is acquired by Dongfang Electronics Group, it will be very difficult for others to grab the fat of the TV station from the mouth of Li Xuan, the richest man in the world.

And Murdoch is obviously an ambitious figure, otherwise in another time and space, he would not have formed a brand new Fox network two years later.

In fact, the company's non-media business shields most greedy eyes from peeping at TV stations. The company's management was reluctant to sell the broadcaster on its own, and most potential acquirers had little interest in the company's other businesses.

If they are willing to accept the dismemberment plan, there are immediately countless teams willing to make a leveraged buyout of the company. The so-called leveraged buyout is to borrow other people's money to get nothing. After acquiring the target company, in order to repay the heavy acquisition loan, the buyer usually disassembles and sells the company, so as to collect funds back and forth. (To be continued..)